Sports Columnists

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) moves to the end zone after a pass from Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) as he's defended by the Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley (21) on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS)

Kolsky: San Francisco 49ers would be well-served to pass on the opportunity to acquire Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown is a great wide receiver. Not good, but great. I’m…

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) moves to the end zone after a pass from Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) as he's defended by the Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley (21) on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS)
University of San Francisco forward Nate Renfro drives against Killian Tillie during a game on Jan. 12, 2019 at War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center. (Chris Victorio / Special to S.F. Examiner)

Bernstein: USF may be in line for a Tournament appearance, but loss to Gonzaga will sting

All Gonzaga needed to do in the waning seconds of its 96-83…

University of San Francisco forward Nate Renfro drives against Killian Tillie during a game on Jan. 12, 2019 at War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center. (Chris Victorio / Special to S.F. Examiner)
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) steals the ball from Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on October 17, 2017. (Stan Olszewski/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Bernstein: James Harden is living rent-free in the Warriors’ heads — and that’s good for Golden State

With about six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of a back-and-forth…

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) steals the ball from Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on October 17, 2017. (Stan Olszewski/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) goes up for a lay-up basket past Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harmless (4) on during the first period of the game at Oracle Arena on December 27, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Chris Victorio

Bernstein: Stop analyzing the Warriors like they’re a normal team

It’s remarkable the amount of times the mettle of the Golden State…

Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) goes up for a lay-up basket past Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harmless (4) on during the first period of the game at Oracle Arena on December 27, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Chris Victorio
Oakland Athletics president Dave Kaval and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf unveil new plans for the Oakland Athletics' stadium at Howard Terminal on Nov. 27, 2018. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)

Kolsky: Bay Area sports teams make New Years resolutions

As a bi-weekly columnist for a local newspaper, I am imbued with…

Oakland Athletics president Dave Kaval and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf unveil new plans for the Oakland Athletics' stadium at Howard Terminal on Nov. 27, 2018. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)
Oakland Athletics reliever Joakim Soria. (Courtesy / Oakland Athletics)

Bernstein: Oakland A’s not done with pitching staff after Joakim Soria acquisition

As the Oakland A’s kept adding to their relief corps last summer…

Oakland Athletics reliever Joakim Soria. (Courtesy / Oakland Athletics)
San Francisco guard Charles Minlend Jr. (14) drives past Kyle Allman Jr. (0) of Cal State Fullerton. The Dons beat the Titans, a 2017 NCAA Tournament team, 68-54, on Dec. 16, 2018. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)

Bernstein: NCAA Tournament is in reach for USF Dons basketball

A few weeks after wrapping up the 2017-18 season, University of San…

San Francisco guard Charles Minlend Jr. (14) drives past Kyle Allman Jr. (0) of Cal State Fullerton. The Dons beat the Titans, a 2017 NCAA Tournament team, 68-54, on Dec. 16, 2018. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)
OAKLAND, CA - OCT 24: Guard Jacob Evans III #10 of the Golden State Warriors grabs a rebound against the Washington Wizards during the fourth quarter of the game on October 24, 2018 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. (Chris Victorio / Special to S.F. Examiner)

Bernstein: Contrast is context for Jacob Evans, Warriors

Despite many expecting him to contribute right away, Golden State Warriors first-round…

OAKLAND, CA - OCT 24: Guard Jacob Evans III #10 of the Golden State Warriors grabs a rebound against the Washington Wizards during the fourth quarter of the game on October 24, 2018 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. (Chris Victorio / Special to S.F. Examiner)
John Lynch. (Courtesy 49ers)

Kolsky: Why 8-20 under Shanahan is nothing to worry about … yet

The San Francisco 49ers are a resounding disappointment by most reasonable standards.…

John Lynch. (Courtesy 49ers)
Oakland Athletics' Matt Chapman and Khris Davis congratulate Stephen Piscotty after hitting a three-run homer against the Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Bernstein: Can Oakland A’s keep promising roster and contend by the time new park opens?

Oakland A’s executives have claimed they will try to keep the team…

Oakland Athletics' Matt Chapman and Khris Davis congratulate Stephen Piscotty after hitting a three-run homer against the Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Oakland Athletics president Dave Kaval and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf discuss plans for the new ballpark at Howard Terminal. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)

Oakland Athletics announce a plan for a plan to build a new ballpark, but they have a long way to go

OAKLAND — Almost exactly a year ago — on Dec. 6, 2017…

Oakland Athletics president Dave Kaval and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf discuss plans for the new ballpark at Howard Terminal. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Reuben Foster, left, celebrates with middle linebacker Brock Coyle after making a defensive stop against the New York Giants at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 12, 2017. (Stan Olszewski/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Bonta Hill: In today’s NFL, Reuben Foster gets another chance, but it’s not with the San Francisco 49ers

Last Saturday night, I was cruising back home and feeling good on…

San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Reuben Foster, left, celebrates with middle linebacker Brock Coyle after making a defensive stop against the New York Giants at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 12, 2017. (Stan Olszewski/Special to S.F. Examiner)
John Lynch, Jed York, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan at the quarterback's introductory press conference in Santa Clara. (Jacob C. Palmer/S.F. Examiner)

Matt Kolsky’s Bay Area Sports Thanksgiving: Giving thanks is easy when things are this good

Happy Thanksgiving, Bay Area sports fans! This is a silly, frivolous column…

John Lynch, Jed York, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan at the quarterback's introductory press conference in Santa Clara. (Jacob C. Palmer/S.F. Examiner)
OAKLAND, CA - OCT 24: Forward Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors signals a three-point shot just made by guard Stephen Curry #30 (not shown) against the Washington Wizards during the third quarter of the game on October 24, 2018 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. (Chris Victorio / Special to S.F. Examiner)

Bonta Hill: Warriors would be in trouble without Kevin Durant

Camelot in the NBA is located on 7000 Coliseum Way in Oakland,…

OAKLAND, CA - OCT 24: Forward Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors signals a three-point shot just made by guard Stephen Curry #30 (not shown) against the Washington Wizards during the third quarter of the game on October 24, 2018 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. (Chris Victorio / Special to S.F. Examiner)
A fan holds up a heart with Willie McCovey's number 44 in it as the San Francisco Giants paid tribute to legend Willie McCovey at AT&T Park on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Willie McCovey, who became a San Francisco institution, memorialized at AT&T Park

AT&T PARK — When Willie McCovey first arrived in San Francisco in…

A fan holds up a heart with Willie McCovey's number 44 in it as the San Francisco Giants paid tribute to legend Willie McCovey at AT&T Park on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Farhan Zaidi addresses the media as he is introduced as the new San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations on Nov. 7, 2018. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)

Kolsky: Farhan Zaidi’s blend of traditional scouting and new-age baseball analytics will move Giants forward

I won’t lie to you here, I was hoping the Giants would…

Farhan Zaidi addresses the media as he is introduced as the new San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations on Nov. 7, 2018. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)
Eli Manning, seen here in 2017, and the New York Giants come to town this week for a flaccid Monday Night Football date with the San Francisco 49ers. (Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News/TNS)

Bonta Hill: Giants-49ers rivalry used to be the stuff of legends, now not so much

Jimmy Garoppolo helping the San Francisco 49ers win five straight games to…

Eli Manning, seen here in 2017, and the New York Giants come to town this week for a flaccid Monday Night Football date with the San Francisco 49ers. (Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News/TNS)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens rolls out during a drill at practice on Oct. 18, 2018. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)

Bonta Hill: In what’s possibly the last Battle of the Bay, neither team has shown much fight

Before the season, I sure thought the NFL made the right decision…

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens rolls out during a drill at practice on Oct. 18, 2018. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)
Damian Jones (15) of the Golden State Warriors takes a free throw against of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter on October 12, 2018 at SAP Center in San Jose, California. (Chris Victorio / Special to S.F. Examiner)

Kolsky: NBA refs are giving freedom to the wrong movements

One of the great things about the NBA, especially when compared to…

Damian Jones (15) of the Golden State Warriors takes a free throw against of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter on October 12, 2018 at SAP Center in San Jose, California. (Chris Victorio / Special to S.F. Examiner)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena during Game 2 of the Western Semifinals in Oakland, California, on May 1, 2018. (Stan Olszewski/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Stephen Curry is the MVP already

When it comes to the Golden State Warriors, the nation seems more…

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena during Game 2 of the Western Semifinals in Oakland, California, on May 1, 2018. (Stan Olszewski/Special to S.F. Examiner)